Far from happily ever after (sequel to Hopeless love)

Chapter 26: Praying

Chapter 26

Katniss P.O.V.

I've been sitting by Peeta's bed for hours. I didn't want to take the children with me, so Annie and I left the kids with Prim and Rory to watch them. Clove left Nathaniel with her parents before she came. Noel and Caitlin are the only once here, but they're so small.

I feel how the tears flow down my eyes. I don't take my eyes off Peeta. I have his big lifeless hand in my smaller one.

"Baby please..." I beg.

Peeta's leg is gone. Not the whole leg. But his calf is gone. They had to amputate it just underneath his knee. Peeta's doctor told me that he'd ordered a specially made fake leg for Peeta. A leg that he won't have to take off and than put on all the time. He can keep this leg on all the time after the wound has healed.

Peeta just has to wake up. The doctor told me that Peeta will wake up but he doesn't know when. It can be whenever. It can be in a few months.

Turned out that Cato, Marvel and Finnick are home as well. Finnick is actually in the same room as Peeta. He's not in a coma, but pretty weak. Apparently he got shot in his arm and lost a lot of blood.

Annie is sitting by his side trying to comfort him. He's crying but we don't know why. He hasn't said a word since he woke up. Annie is trying to make him talk.

As for Cato and Marvel we don't really know yet. Clove and Glimmer hasn't been in here since we came.

"Peeta baby please..." I bag hugging Peeta's big hand with both of my arms. "Please, you made me a promise".

Finnick makes some kind of noise that makes me looks up at him.

He's looking at Peeta with pleading eyes. Like he wants to say something. He's opening and closing his mouth a couple of times before he keeps it closed, leans back his head on the pillow with closed eyes.

"Finnick what happened?" I ask, looking at him.

Something is obviously bothering Finnick. Something happened when he got shot in the arm and Peeta lost his leg. Something that Finnick doesn't want to talk about. I'm curious to know what.

Finnick just shakes his head. He's still in shock. Anyone can see that. I feel so sorry for Finnick. It must have been horrible.

I look back down at Peeta. I stroke his perfect jawline with my fingers. My tears flowing even more.

He has to wake up now.

"Peeta please", I beg. "Baby wake up, I need you to wake up. Riley needs you, Becca needs you and Matty needs you".

I don't know what to do. It's been hours and he hasn't woken up. He can't wake up in a few months. That's too long. He has to wake up now!

"Finnick, why won't you talk?" I hear Annie ask. "Have you lost your voice or something?"

No he hasn't. He made that sound before. He just doesn't want to speak. I don't get that. Why is he keeping quiet?

I look at them. Annie is stroking back Finnick's bronze colored hair, as she looks at him with worried eyes.

Finnick really is upset. But why? Why is he so upset? We'll not know until he decides to start talking.

I turn to Peeta again. I put my hand onto his cheek.

"Baby... I love you so much", I say. "I love you so so much".

I feel how my tears only continues to flow. I need my Peeta to wake up.

I still don't understand how Riley knew that Peeta was hurt. It really freaks me out.

"And I love you", I hear a husky voice.

I look up at Peeta and see his ocean clear blue eyes look back at me.

"Oh my god you're awake!" I cry and lean in closer to him as I start stroking his perfect jawline again.

"I promised I wouldn't leave you", he says.

"I should've trusted you", I smile before kissing him.

When I lean back I see him frowning.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I can't feel my leg", he says.

I swallow hard.

"Peeta that's because ... It's not there anymore", I say.

Peeta's eyes widen in horror.

"What?" He asks.

"They had to amputate it, but don't worry, your doctor has ordered a really good fake leg for you, specially made", I say, trying to comfort him.

"I don't have my leg?" He asks hurt.

"Baby I'm so sorry", I say.

"Peeta I'm sorry!"

I turn to look at Finnick who's now sitting up with his face into his hands. Annie is looking really confused.

"Huh?" I ask, looking from Peeta to Finnick and back again.

"Finnick what are you talking about?" Annie asks.

"It's my fault, I was too slow", he cries. "It's my fault Peeta lost his leg. Dude I'm really really sorry".

"Finnick it wasn't your fault", Peeta says. "If that car had hit you, you'd be dead, I'd rather lose my leg than my my best friend".

What Peeta just said moved me back to tears. That was so sweet.

"Guys what happened?" I ask.

"I saw the car, it had started to shoot. I got a bullet in my leg, Finnick in his arm, we all know that he isn't that fast, but with the bullet in his arm and the pain he got even slower", Peeta says and Finnick whimpers. "I saw what was about to happen so I guess I got an adrenaline kick or something because I ran faster even with the bullet in my leg and pushed Finnick aside, and the car ran straight over the leg I got shot on, than Cato shot the car but don't remember anything after that, it all when black".

Oh my god. I can't even imagine the pain Peeta must have gone through.

"I couldn't let Finnick die, he's my best friend, I had to save him", Peeta says. "Finnick losing you would be a much bigger loss than losing my leg, because the truth is, my leg can be replaced, but man, you can't".

My heart is melting when I hear Peeta's words. Boys care about their friends too. Of course they do.

Annie runs up to Peeta and gives him a hug.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you", she cries. "I'm never going to be able to thank you enough for saving Finnick, Peeta".

I brush away my tears with my hands. My man is the best, bravest and awesome man alive. I'm so lucky to call him mine. Sometimes it all just feels like a dream. A nightmare mixed with a wonderful dream.

Annie walks back to Finnick and pulls him to her in a tight hug.

Peeta cups my cheek in his hand, looking at me with a tender smile. I return the smile. I take a deep breath, closing my eyes. I feel Peeta's lips on mine and I gladly kiss him back. I put my arms around his neck and feel my tears start to flow again.

I was so scared that I wouldn't be able to kiss these lips ever again. I usually don't cry this much, but being together with Peeta, with him being a soldier has been a real challenge, and it has really made me appreciate what I have, because when you least expect it, it can all be gone in the matter of a split second. And that scares me. It really scares me.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

✏️1271 words✏️

Hey, I hope you liked the chapter.

Appreciate what you have. Your family and your friend, one day they might be gone.

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-Josephine xx